About us

Search form

You are here

Winnipeg to hire additional paramedics in 2013

“Today’s announcement is obviously good news for City paramedics, who are struggling with high call volumes and offload delays at Winnipeg hospitals,” said Chris Broughton, President of Paramedics of Winnipeg, MGEU Local 911.

Winnipeg (15 Jan. 2013) — The City of Winnipeg has formally announced its commitment to hire 12 new paramedics, allowing an additional ambulance to be staffed 24/7 and hire 10 additional fire paramedic dispatch operators this year.

The goal, the city says is to “ease some of the burden on Winnipeg's ambulances” and help deal with the ongoing problem of paramedics being kept idle at city emergency rooms waiting with patients.

The city says it will also invest in new tools paramedics will have in the field, such as technology that uses iPhones to transmit defibrillator data to doctors.

“Today’s announcement is obviously good news for City paramedics, who are struggling with high call volumes and offload delays at Winnipeg hospitals,” said Chris Broughton, President of Paramedics of Winnipeg, Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE) Local 911.

“This won’t solve those ongoing problems, but it’s important to acknowledge that this investment will help in delivering quality pre-hospital care to Winnipeggers.”

The total cost of the new positions — just over $1.2 million — has been earmarked in the city's latest operating budget and will be cost-shared with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE